PM Oli meets President Xi

Talks focus on bilateral cooperation, cross-border connectivity

Kathmandu, June 20: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called on Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday.

The two leaders discussed various matters pertaining to bilateral relations and on ways and means to further expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields, including through cross border railway connectivity, said the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Oli extended his congratulations to President Xi for the successful conclusion of the 19^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2017 as well as of the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in 2018.

The PM also congratulated the Chinese President for successfully holding the 18^th Summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) last week and for assuming the chairmanship of the organisation.

President Xi congratulated Nepal for achieving political stability and outlining economic development priorities and assured China’s full support and cooperation in realising Nepal’s development goals.

Earlier, Prime Minister Oli had laid a wreath at the Monument to the People’s Heroes at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

At a function organised at the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing in the morning, he met with the Nepali diaspora in China.

Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the priorities of the government, and urged all Nepali nationals living abroad, including those living in China, to support the government in its efforts in the socio-economic transformation of the country.

Prime Minister Oli witnessed the signing of an Agreement for Co-operation between Nepal Electricity Authority and State Grid Corporation of China for Feasibility Study of Nepal-China Cross-border Power Grid Interconnection Project.

As per the agreement, the two sides will carry out the feasibility study of the 400 kV Kerung-Rasuwagadhi-Galchhi-Ratmate transmission line.

The Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of eight Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) between Nepali agencies and enterprises and their Chinese partners, in the areas of hydropower generation, manufacturing, river training, and agriculture, at a separate function organised at the Embassy of Nepal.

Following the programme at the Embassy, the Prime Minister inaugurated the ‘2018 Nepal-China Business Forum’, jointly organised by the Embassy of Nepal and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Inaugurating the Forum, the Prime Minister said that Nepal had embarked on the path of peace and political stability following the three tiers of elections under the federal set-up last year, and expressed his confidence that Chinese entrepreneurs would take advantage of the conducive atmosphere and investment-friendly policies of the Government of Nepal for investments in Nepal.

Later in the evening, Li Jiqun, President of the AIIB called on the Prime Minister at the Diaoyutai State Guest House.

PM Oli is scheduled to hold delegation level talks with his Chinese counterpart tomorrow.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 June 2018.